Shirley Hallberg

Shirley Ann Hallberg (Morley) passed into eternal life on March 20th, 2024, in Forest Lake, MN, surrounded by the love that she cultivated over her 95 years. A lifelong resident of Forest Lake, Shirley loved, welcomed, taught, befriended, mothered, grandmother-ed, and great grandmother-ed many. Her life is a lesson in grace. It was impossible to be with Shirley and not feel her care, her hospitality. She loved fiercely and gently with music, food, and a deep faith. Shirley was born on April 21st, 1928, to Joe and Orena (nee Houle) Morley. She inherited her father’s humor and her mother’s strength—Orena once broke her arm ice fishing and calmly dropped her granddaughter at home before driving herself to the hospital. Memories of singing, accompanied by her older sister LaVonne (Arnie) Servaty on the piano, stayed with Shirley her entire life. And, given that she is preceded in death by LaVonne, her younger sisters Delores (Jerry) Fairbanks and Maureen (Buck) Thurston, and her brother Malcolm (Jean) Morley, it is safe to assume there will be music in Heaven again tonight. Shirley is survived by her younger brother John (Liz) Morley who lives in Forest Lake.

 While she was at Forest Lake High School, Shirley met a shy, kinda awkward boy named Warren Hallberg (1923–2006). Though he went off to fly a cargo plane over Europe during the war, Shirley remembered him. He returned in 1946, just in time for Shirley to graduate High School and go to St. Cloud State Teacher College, where Warren reintroduced himself through repeated flyovers in his new hobby airplane. Shirley finished teaching school in 1948 and promptly married Warren on August 12th of that same year. Shirley went on to teach grade school until she gave birth to twins Richard (Vicky) Hallberg (Wauwatosa, WI) and Douglas Hallberg (Mechanicsville, NY), winning a prize from Maytag, who promised to award any twins born on September 23rd, 1952, a year’s supply of baby food and a brand-new washer and dryer that played the song “How Dry I Am” on the completion of its cycle. Over the next few years, Warren and Shirley welcomed their son Joe (Pam) Hallberg (North Oaks, MN) and daughter Barb (Joe) Kruse (La Crosse, WI). While Shirley decided to become a full-time mom, truthfully, she never stopped teaching. Whether it was her own children or as a volunteer, substitute teacher, and even an interim principal at St Peter’s School in Forest Lake, Shirley was a lifelong educator. In 1965 her second daughter Mary Ann (Dan) Henke (Lino Lakes, MN) was born, and three years later her youngest Thomas (Kathy) Hallberg (Forest Lake, MN) joined the family.

 Shirley created a home for her six children that was warm and welcoming. She modeled a life of service for her family as a lifetime member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, a Meals on Wheels volunteer, a choir member, an election judge, a Hospital Auxiliary (member and president), and an American Legion Auxiliary (member and president). During all of this, Shirley somehow still managed to make time for her Bunco group and her “Do Nothing Club,” whose activities remain a mystery to this day. She filled her life with things she loved and shared that passion with everyone around her as a brave traveler, an avid reader, a ruthless card player, a lucky angler, a constant walker, a devoted gardener, a ready musician, and a consummate host.

 Shirley lives on through her grandchildren Chris Hallberg, Mike (Bridget) Hallberg, Lisa (Corby) Ortman, Emily (Phil) Kirsch, Ben (Nichole) Kruse, Paul Kruse, Joe (Kate) Kruse, Mark (Leanne) Kruse, Jay (Ashley) Henke, Brian (Julia) Henke, Clare Henke, Joe Henke, Madeleine (Evan) Hallberg, Rachelle Hallberg, and Carl Hallberg—who share Shirley’s love with her 17 great grandchildren. Shirley’s family would especially like to thank the staff of Amira Choice Forest Lake and Ecumen Hospice for their kind and devoted care these past several years. Memorials for Shirley can be sent to St. Peter’s Church and Ecumen Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the Church of Saint Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Monday at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.  Private family burial at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake.